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Give Thanks Anyway
2 Chronicles 20.1 - 22

Good Questions Have Groups Talking
www.joshhunt.com

If someone were to write a book on Forgotten Chapters of the Bible, this should be chapter 1. It is one of the best stories in the Bible and nearly unknown. Encourage your people to read it, along with any notes they might have in their study Bible in preparation for your group’s meeting.

OPEN

What is your name and one thing you are grateful for.

DIG

1.      Overview. Let’s read this story as a whole, each reading two or three verses. Then, let me get one of you to summarize it. The rest of us will fill in the gaps.

One day King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah saw that a great multitude had risen up against them. Three groups of aggressors—the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the people of Mount Seir—launched a major assault against Jerusalem.

Jehoshaphat felt deeply afraid, but rather than cower in fear, he “set himself to seek the LORD” (2 Chr. 20:3). He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah and called the people together to join him in seeking the Lord. He stood before the people in the house of the Lord and prayed, “O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?” (20:6).

Jehoshaphat did not express doubt in the power of God, but rather publicly proclaimed his trust in almighty God. He declared that he was putting all of his hope in the Lord of unlimited power. In addition, Jehoshaphat stated very plainly that he, even as king of Judah, stood in total humility and weakness before the Lord. He claimed no authority in or for himself. He said to God:

Ÿ  You are the One who gave us this land.

Ÿ  You are the One who has allowed Your people to dwell in it and build a sanctuary in it.

Ÿ  You are the One who said that we should cry out to You in our affliction and You would hear and save us.

Ÿ  You are the One who told us to spare these enemy people when we first came to occupy this land.

Ÿ  You are the only One capable of judging these enemies who are rising against us—we have no power and no plan.

He concluded his prayer by admitting, “our eyes are upon You.” In effect, Jehoshaphat was saying, “If You don’t exercise Your authority in this matter, we are doomed. We are putting our entire trust and confidence in You and You alone.”

We see no trace of egotism in Jehoshaphat. He made no demand that God do something that God did not desire to do. Jehoshaphat claimed no authority in himself, and also no power for himself. But he wisely recognized that all power and all authority rest in God alone, and from that understanding he petitioned the God of heaven. — Charles F. Stanley, The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles, 2005), 2 Ch 20:3.

2.      Verse 1. Context. “After this.” After what?

The invasion followed Jehoshaphat’s religious and judicial reforms (ch. 19), and so was not an instance of divine punishment (cf. 12:2) but rather an opportunity to exercise faith (see 32:1). The Moabites and Ammonites lived east of the Dead Sea. The Meunites are equated with the people of Mount Seir (20:10, 22, 23), on the southern border of Judah (see Deut. 2:1; 2 Chron. 26:7). Engedi lies on the midpoint of the Dead Sea’s western shore. great multitude. See 13:8; 14:9; 32:7. Judah was apparently outnumbered by the coalition of enemy nations. — Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 767–768.

3.      Verse 2. Emotion. What are the people feeling in this verse? What is a situation we might be in that would cause us to feel in a similar way?

Jehoshaphat received devastating news. Judah was about to be invaded: “A great multitude is coming against you.” The first thing the king did was go to God in prayer: “[He] turned his attention to seek the LORD; and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah” (2 Chron. 20:2, 3 NASB).

When trials or tragedies come, let your quick response be one of petition and prayer. The people realized there was nothing they could do to save themselves from the approaching army. Only God could intervene. In prayer we must be willing for Him to do whatever it takes to bring about a victory.

Second, we must humble ourselves before God, confessing our need of His wisdom and deliverance. When adversity strikes, many people try to work out their circumstances on their own. But God told Jehoshaphat the battle was not his. It was God’s.

Judah was delivered, but not by conventional means. God instructed the choir to go before the army and sing songs of praise to Him. As the battle cry rose, the Lord delivered His people from the hand of the enemy, and He will do the same for you.

Prayer, praise, and trust are key elements to victory. Are you trusting the Lord for the solution to the problem facing you? If not, you can begin right now. Give your burdens to Him in prayer, and praise Him for the victory. — Charles F. Stanley, On Holy Ground (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), 128.

4.      Verse 3. What was Jehoshaphat’s FIRST reaction to trouble? What is your first reaction to trouble?

Even though he was afraid, Jehoshaphat turned his attention to seek the Lord. He called the people of God together. They began to pray and fast. — Steve Gaines, Pray Like It Matters (Auxano Press, 2013).

5.      Note that they proclaimed a fast. What does the Bible teach about fasting?

Fasting Explained

The Bible defines fasting as a Christian’s voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes. It is Christian, for fasting by a nonChristian has no eternal value since the discipline’s motives and purposes are to be God-centered. Fasting is voluntary in the sense that it is not to be coerced. Fasting is more than just the ultimate crash diet for the body, it is abstinence from food for spiritual purposes.

Fasting Is Expected

Notice Jesus’ words at the beginning of Mt. 6:16–17, "When you fast  . . . " By giving us instructions on what to do and what not to do when we fast, Jesus assumes that we will fast.

Compare these words with His statements about giving and praying in the same passage, "So when you give  . . ." (Mt. 6:2–3), "But when you pray . . ." (Mt. 6:5–7). No one doubts that we are to give and to pray.

Plainer still are Jesus’ words in Mt. 9:14–15. The Pharisees asked Him, "‘How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?’ Jesus answered, ‘How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast’ " (emphasis mine). That time is now. Until Jesus, the Bridegroom of the Church returns, He expects us to fast. — Discipleship Journal, Issue 67 (January/February 1992) (NavPress, 1992).

6.      Have you ever fasted? Tell us your story.

I was converted to Christ at age 17 and did not fast until I was 39 years old. During those years I read the Bible through each year—including the passages on fasting—but never once thought fasting was for me. I considered fasting to be “an Old Testament thing” and I didn’t feel the least bit concerned about not fasting until I moved to Lynchburg, Virginia, and met Jerry Falwell.

Jerry Falwell led his church to fast and it became part of our preparations in founding Liberty University. (I am called a co-founder, but Falwell was the driving force that established the university.) In Lynchburg, I found myself paying two monthly house payments, one in Virginia and another back in greater Chicago, because I couldn’t sell my previous home before moving. Two monthly payments put an enormous strain on the family budget.

I observed that when Jerry Falwell needed money for a new university building or a television project, he asked people to fast and pray with him. The money always came in.

So I asked my wife to fast and pray with me on the fifteenth day of the month, because that was the date the Chicago mortgage payment was due. We fasted and prayed that month but the house didn’t sell. I forgot about fasting until the fifteenth day of the following month, but then again it didn’t sell.

After fasting and praying the third month, the realtor phoned to say there was finally a nibble. In a down real estate market, only one person looked at my house but he returned several times to check out details. We finally closed the sale almost one year after we first fasted. At the closing, the buyer told me he began looking at my house on his wife’s birthday, the day after Ruth and I had fasted the very first time. I learned two things from that experience: First, fasting takes prayer to a higher level of fulfillment, and second, don’t quit too soon.

That experience taught us that fasting is an invaluable foundation to prayer. Of course, not everything we have fasted about has happened, but fasting has added a new dimension to our prayer lives. Since that time, we have learned that fasting is an invaluable way to get to know God. — Elmer L. Towns, The Beginner’s Guide to Fasting, Second Edition (Ventura, CA: Regal; Gospel Light, 2009), 7–8.

7.      Verses 6ff. What do we learn about prayer from this passage?

Jehoshaphat’s prayer contains five basic elements: (1) an invocation to the “God of our fathers” (v. 6); (2) an acknowledgement that the land now threatened was a divine gift (v. 7); (3) an assertion that he was turning to God in time of need (vv. 8, 9); (4) an indictment of the enemy for their base ingratitude—Israel had refrained from attacking them (Ammon, Moab, and Edom) at the time of the Exodus and wilderness wandering (vv. 10, 11; cf. Num. 20:17–21; Deut. 2:4, 5); and (5) an admission of Judah’s utter dependence upon God (v. 12). — W. A. Criswell et al., eds., Believer’s Study Bible, electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), 2 Ch 20:6.

8.      Let’s look at the beginning of this prayer. Note that they don’t start by asking. They don’t start by talking about the problems. How does this prayer start? What is the lesson for us? What is the application?

The odds were certainly against Jehoshaphat and his men.

Surrounding them were the hordes of three armies—vastly outnumbering the Israelites. Jehoshaphat’s response provides all of us whose backs are against the proverbial wall with a godly game plan:

First, Jehoshaphat acknowledged God’s unequaled power: “Power and might are in Thy hand so that no one can stand against Thee” (2 Chron. 20:6 NASB). Whatever your circumstances, God is greater. His power is sufficient. His grace is adequate. His mercy is abundant.

Second, Jehoshaphat admitted his helplessness: “We are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us” (2 Chron. 20:12 NASB). Your strength is limited. God’s might is unsurpassed.

Third, Jehoshaphat focused on God’s presence: “Our eyes are on Thee” (2 Chron. 20:12 NASB). Don’t dwell on your problem. Concentrate on God’s active presence and participation in the midst of your difficulty.

The battle is His to win as you daily trust Him. He will fight for you if you let Him. He has yet to lose. — Charles F. Stanley, On Holy Ground (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), 129.

9.      What do we learn about God from the beginning of this prayer?

Jehoshaphat had a huge problem. This good king of Judah had just received some bad news. The armies of the Moabites and Ammonites were about to march on them. It was a time of national emergency, and most leaders would have called their advisors or mustered the army, but not King Jehoshaphat.

Jehoshaphat was afraid and sought the Lord. He didn’t falter, complain, or waste time in pessimistic thinking. Instead, he immediately called the people together for a time of prayer with fasting.

Notice the attributes of God he named at the beginning of his prayer: “O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?” (2 Chron. 20:6).

The king recognized God’s ultimate power and authority; therefore, he was not afraid of what mere men might do to him. Furthermore, he showed that he was willing to be involved in the process of God’s answer. The king didn’t mouth a halfhearted, unemotional statement; he prayed with passion and sincerity.

Have you ever poured forth your heart to the Lord? He wants you to cry out to Him and actively seek His deliverance. — Charles F. Stanley, Into His Presence (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000), 76.

10.  How does this prayer differ from most prayers you hear in church?

Jehoshaphat’s prayer was God centered. He did not indulge in negativism by dwelling on the details of the difficulty. God wants you to be specific about a problem, His desire is to move your focus onto His power. Name your concern and begin with praise for His action and blessing in the past; then express the truth of His omnipotence.

The king was no novice in rulership, and that wasn’t the first kingdom problem. He had learned the value of coming to God in absolute humility, acknowledging his utter dependence. So complete was his trust that he never lapsed into self-reliance.

In other words, he could have quickly thanked God and then spread out the battle maps to make plans with his commanders. In your situation, the temptation to figure it out yourself may be the same, but God wants you to let Him handle the strategy.

What is even more awesome is that while the king prayed, God already had their deliverance under way. By the time the army of Judah arrived on the scene, what they beheld was a field of corpses. Not one foe was left standing. God provided what they needed, and He supplied them with gracious abundance.

Trusting Him to provide the resources for every demand makes you a God-centered person. — Charles F. Stanley, Into His Presence (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000), 77.

11.  Let’s pause and pray together. In this prayer, I’d like for us to pray conversationally and limit our prayer to only expressions of praise and gratitude. It will be a good discipline for us to pray without asking for anything—just thanksgiving and praise.

The great prayers of the Bible consistently start the way Jesus told us to start our prayers: in praise.

You might praise Him for saving and sealing you.
You might praise Him for healing and forgiving you.
You might praise Him for his blessings.

You might praise Him through His names…

He is Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord who provides.
He is Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord who is our peace.
He is Jehovah- Tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness.
He is Jehovah-Rophe, the Lord who heals.
He is Jehovah- Mekadesh, the Lord who sanctifies.
He is Jehovah- Nissi, the Lord our banner.
He is Jehovah-Rohi, the Lord our shepherd.
He is Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord who is there.

— Brad Whitt, Rooted

12.  Verse 12. Ever felt this way? Who has a story?

Jehoshaphat had a choice. In 2 Chronicles 20, we read how a tremendous army had come against the nation of Israel with one intention: destroying the people of God. Most armies in Israel’s position would have been plotting their survival. Wisely, Jehoshaphat chose to lead the people in a prayer that confessed their total dependence on the Lord: “O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude” (v. 12).

You may think that you do not have an option when facing a difficult challenge, but you do. You can choose to turn to God and bow down before Him, or you can turn and run away in fear.

If Israel caved in to fear, the people would be running for the rest of their existence. Jehoshaphat was wise enough to know that his nation wouldn’t survive without God’s intervention.

The enemy has one goal for your life, and that is discouragement—to influence people to give up and become ineffective for God. You are called to follow Christ for a purpose. When challenges come, go to God in prayer. Confess your inability and your need for Him. Humility is a sign of great strength, not weakness.

Then trust God to do the impossible in your situation and give you the victory.

Heavenly Father, You have a solution for the challenges I am facing today. I trust You to do the impossible and bring the victory. — Charles Stanley, I Lift up My Soul: Devotions to Start Your Day with God (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010).

13.  Verse 15. The Bible says that these things (the Old Testament) were written down as examples for us. What are we to learn about Christian living from this verse?

You lose your job. Your spouse files for divorce. You discover that one of your children is on drugs. A loved one is diagnosed with cancer and given only six months to live. Such times are extremely disorienting. They strike with such intensity that your emotions can be buried beneath a tide of fear and anxiety.

Yet three pillars of truth can help you endure and triumph:

1. God knows your problems. Your woes have not taken God by surprise. He is aware of every detail of your troubles: “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matt. 6:8).

2. God cares about your problems. God loves you without limit. As the Good Shepherd, He will protect and defend you: “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chron. 20:15).

3. God is able to deal with your problems. God has the power to handle your problems. Because He knows and cares, He will act according to His wisdom and will: “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Prayer: O Lord, thank You for the assurance that You know about my problems, You care about them, and You are able to deal with every issue.

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

He said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.’” (2 Chron. 20:15) — Charles Stanley, A Gift of Love: Reflections for the Tender Heart (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2001).

14.  Does this suggest a passive approach to Christian living?

When I was a child, my father and I watched a boxing match on television. After going through the ritual of punching the air, kicking his feet, and putting rosin on his shoes, one of the fighters knelt in the corner and crossed himself. I asked my dad if that helped. He said, “It does if he can punch. If he can’t punch, it doesn’t help at all.”

That illustrates a point we touched on yesterday and will explore further today: God’s part and our part in spiritual warfare. Many Christians believe spiritual victory comes simply by surrendering more completely to God. They quote verses like 2 Chronicles 20:15 to support their view: “The battle is not yours but God’s.” “Stop struggling and striving,” they say. “Instead, yield and completely surrender yourself to God. He alone does the fighting and gives the victory.”

Such people are often called “Quietists” because they view the Christian’s role in spiritual warfare as passive or quiet. Their anthem is, “Let go and let God.”

But Scripture gives a very different view of the believer’s role. It pictures the Christian life as a war, a race, and a fight. We depend on God’s energy, power, and strength, but we are by no means passive. We’re commanded to apply ourselves to good deeds, resist the Devil, bring our bodies under subjection, walk in wisdom, press toward the prize, cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, work out our salvation with fear and trembling, and perfect holiness in the fear of God. Those are calls to fervent action.

In Ephesians 6:10–11 Paul says, “Be strong in the … strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God.” That’s the balance. God supplies the resources; we supply the effort. — John F. MacArthur Jr., Drawing Near—Daily Readings for a Deeper Faith (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1993), 260.

15.  Verses 21, 22. What do we learn about Christian living from these verse?

Praise is often the key that turns defeat into victory … even when your life seems to be sinking into darkness and despair and the enemy seems to have the upper hand.

As life gets more complicated and problems and pressures grow, don’t forget the key!

Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, used the key when he “appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.’ As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the [enemy] … and they were defeated” (2 Chronicles 20:21 – 22).

Paul and Silas, sitting in a Philippian jail, used the key. And as they sang praises, the prison doors were opened, the jailer was converted, and they were set free (Acts 16:25 – 36).

When you seem to be facing defeat … when you feel imprisoned by ill health or by your circumstances … when friends betray you and foes attack you … it’s time to use the key. It’s time to start praising God! — Anne Graham Lotz, Fixing My Eyes on Jesus: Daily Moments in His Word (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012).

16.  Verse 22. They began to sing. Why is singing so important to the Christian life?

Anyone who spends time with me knows how much I enjoy singing, especially at work. When someone helps me type, we’ll reach for the hymnal next to my computer, flip it open to an old favorite, and harmonize our hearts out.

All this is not just to fill the office corridors with song. For me, singing is a wonderful way to clear the spiritual air, shooing away any dark spirits hanging around. (Until recently a New Age publisher rented the second floor of suites in our building.)

It hearkens back to 2 Chronicles 20, in which Jehoshaphat was called into battle. He “appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him…as they went out at the head of the army.” Jehoshaphat’s army then made a shambles of the enemy. What a wonderful story of how songs of praise make a difference in a spiritual climate. Confusion befuddled the enemy, and their camps turned on one another. The people of God then carried away the plunder.

If you’re fighting darkness or engaged in a spiritual conflict, if the Enemy is poised and ready to attack, the best defense is to sing. It’s a way of resisting the Devil. Singing is also the best offense. Songs of praise will confuse the Enemy and send the Devil’s hoards hightailing. So pick a hymn, any hymn. Choose a Scripture chorus. Or make up your own melody to a favorite portion of Scripture. Victor)’ over the Enemy can be yours for a song.

Bring to my mind songs, Lord, when my path is blocked by the enemy of my soul. Keep my heart attuned to you. — Joni Eareckson Tada, ­ (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010).

17.  How does thanksgiving and praise affect our enemy?

In your daily battle against Satan and a society which serves him, use the resources discussed in Ephesians. Also do what King Jehoshaphat did when confronted by his enemy in 2 Chronicles 20:21,22: “Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.’ As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men…who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.”

A choir marching in front of the troops as front line warriors? How strange. Stranger yet is what they were singing: praise to God. But they were victorious. When you confront your enemy, praise God. Praise is the best weapon you have! — H. Norman Wright, Quiet Times for Couples (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2011).

18.  What place does thanksgiving and praise have in your life personally?

For us, worship must precede warfare. We are involved in a war that has been won, but still has battles to be fought. The war we are involved in is with the forces of hell. Ephesians 6:12 identifies our Enemy. He fights against us as we advance the gospel of Christ in the world. We come under attack when we live an exemplary life that bears the fruit of the Spirit. Combat often discourages us and causes us to fear and compromise our walk with Christ. We must not fear or compromise—we have victory in Jesus! He defeated the forces of the Enemy on the Cross and by His resurrection.

Like Jehoshaphat, we have been promised victory. Therefore we ought to begin every day with praise to our Lord. We must sing His praises daily. Worship reminds us of our victory. Worship reminds us of how powerful our Lord is. Worship sets an ambush for the Enemy. Sing to the King today! — Johnny Hunt, My Daily Devotional Prayer Book: Living the Life (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2011).

19.  What do you want to apply from today’s study?

20.  How can we support one another in prayer this week?